Cuidado de enfermagem à família da pessoa com transtorno do espectro autista

Abstract

This study aimed to describe family challenges and the nursing care process for the family of a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder, analyzing challenges faced by caregivers and strategies to qualify assistance. This is an integrative literature review, with searches in the databases of the National Library of Medicine of the United States, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, Nursing Database and Journal Portal of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, using the Health Science Descriptors: Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Nursing, Family with the Boolean connector OR and AND. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, six articles published between 2019 and 2024 were selected. The results showed that families face emotional overload, socioeconomic difficulties, and gaps in access to support networks, impacting their quality of life. The diagnosis of ASD generates uncertainty, adaptations in routine, and demand for continuous support, often neglected by health services. Nursing emerges as a protagonist in humanized reception, acting through active listening, individualized guidance, and articulation of intersectoral networks. The importance of nursing consultation to plan holistic interventions, adapted to family singularities, and professional training to deal with the complexities of ASD is highlighted.It is concluded that nursing care must transcend the biomedical focus, integrating interdisciplinary practices and public policies that strengthen support for families. The research reinforces the need for continuous training of nurses, care strategies centered on family resilience, and expansion of studies that address the emotional and social demands of caregivers. The study contributes to critical reflection on the role of nursing in promoting comprehensive health in the context of ASD, combining scientific evidence with a humanized perspective, anchored in the author's maternal and professional experience.